Freezing tray heating device



July 28, 1931. A. w. BER RE SFORD FREEZING TRAY HEATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 18. 1927 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY:

thereof.

\ sists in Patented July 28, 1931 v UNITED STATES ARTHUR w. ammroan, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO KEL'VINATOB COR PATENT OFFICE POBATIOH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN FREEZING TRAY HEATING DEVICE Application filed August 18, 1927. Serial 110. 818,784.

My invention relates to heating devices and it has particular relation to means for freeing blocks of ice from containers in which it has been frozen.

Some difiiculty has been encountered in freeing blocks of ice from the containers in which they have been frozen. This is particularly true of. the task of removing looks or cubes of ice from the small pans generally known as freezing trays, employed for that purpose in mechanical refrigerating units of the domestic type, because of the large number of partitions contained therein. Heretofore, the ice has been freed from such trays or containers by holding the tray upside down and pouring heated water over the bottom *thereof. This method not only requires considerable time and effort, but is diflicult to practice without renderingthe kitchen untidy. Also, a waste of ice is caused, as, during the time required for the heat from the water to warm the partitions in the ice tray, the ice adjacent to the bottom of the pan is melted to an unnecessary degreeJ By my invention I have eliminated all of these objections and have provided a novel device of attractive appearance by which the ice blocks may be readily removed and which ma housed in any suitable location without etriment to the appearance of the kitchen.

' One object of my invention consists in providing means for automatically heating a freezing tray.

Another ob ect of my invention is to provide means for simultaneously heating all portions of said freezing tray, including the ottom the side walls and the partitions A further object of my invention consists in providing a novel type of freezing tray heating device which is simple in construction, inexpensive to operate, and attractive in appearance.

An additional object of my invention conproviding a novel'type of freezing tray whichlends itself particularly to use with my improved ice tra heating device.

A' still further object o my invention is to provide a novel method of freeing blocks constructed in accordance with my invention.

ad to the ac-.

Referring more specifically to the draw-- ings, I have illustrated a cabinet 10 within which is disposed a transformer core 11, of the usual'ty e, upon which is mounted a primary win ing 12 and an open circuit secondary winding 13 consisting of a single bar of substantially U-shape having a main body portion 14 and spaced legs 15 and 16 integral therewith. The secondary winding 13 may be composed of copper or any other suitable conductor of electricity, and

is of sufiicient cross-sectional area to support a freezing tray 17 upon the legs 15 and 16. As illustrated in Fig. 2, on one side of the cabinet 10 ismounted a manually operable electric switch 18, which is. connected to the primary winding 12 by means 4 of suitable connections 19 and to an external source of power by means of connections 20. Normally the switch 18 is so turned as to keep the primary winding 12 continuously energized, the resulting flow of current being relatlvel small unless" the secondary windin of t e transformer is closed.

The reezing' tra 17 consists of a bottom portion 21, side w ls 22'and partition walls 23 and is composed of copper, aluminum or the like. It is desirable that the partition walls 23 be cast with the main body portions 21 and ,22 of the tray, or, that they be soldered thereto, so as to form good electrical contact therewith. Disposed partially within the cabinet 10 is a lever 24 pivotally it toward the leg trays forcing the sides thereof. into clampmounted u n a pin secured in the wall of the cabinet 10. Rigidly secured to the lever 24 is a cam 26, composed of insulating material which is adapted to engage the leg 16 of the secondary winding 13 to move 15 when the lever 24 is manually actuated.

Having described the structural features of m invention, its operation is as follows:

A r ice has been frozen in the freezing tray 17, the tray is removed from the refrigerator, or other freezing device, in WlllCh the freezing operation occurs, and is placed upon the legs 15 and 16, which are so she d as to conform to the sides of the tray ll? so as to form a ood electrical contact therewith, the weig t of the freezing mg engagement with the legs 15'and 16.

.In the event that suitable electrical contact is not secured by reason .of the clamping engagement produced by the weight 0 the freezing tray, the lever 24 maybe actuated so as to move the leg 16 toward the leg 15,

thus clamping the freezing" tray 'therebetween. With the primary winding 12 energized the secondary winding 13 will have a source of potential existing across the legs 15 and 16 and as soon as the metallic freezing tra 17 is placed upon the'legs and 161111 e ectric current W111 flow therebetween through the freezing tray. This current serves to heat the variousportions of the I tray and as the partition walls 23 have good electrical contact with the'various portions of the side walls the current also traverses these partition walls, thus servin all portions of the freezing tray simultaneous y.

It will be understood, of course, that the secondary winding 13 is insulated from the cabinet 10 so as to prevent an current flowing therein except when the egs 15 and 16 are bridged by means of the freezingtray.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the only action necessary on the part of the operator-to free the ice cubes or blocks from the freezing tray consists in placing the tray upon the su porting legs 15 and 16 for a suflicient'lengt of time for the current to slightly heat t e various portions of the freezing tray, whereupon the tray may be removed from the heating device and overturned to remove the ice blocks therefrom. The length of time required by the heating device to sufiicientl to heat out disturbing the remainder by placing in contact with the arms 15 and 16 only one end of the tray. This will result in a relatively heavy current passing through the portion of t e tray in contact with the arms 15 and 16, and only a relatively small current passing through the remainder of the tray. The heavier current will heat the end of the tray sufficiently to free the blocks of ice therein disposed before the remainder of the tray is heated to any material degree. The desired free blocks may then be. removed and the tray containing the remaining blocks again returned to the refri erator.

. rom the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided an a paratus for facilitating the removal of ice rom freezing trays which is simple to manufacture and inexpensive to operate, and which simplifies and materially reduces the amount of effort necesary'to remove the ice from the tray.

Although I have illustrated but one form of my invention and have-described in detail but a single application thereof,'it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various modifications and changes may be the same and means for inducing an electrical circuit therein. 1

3. A freezing tray heating device comprising a casing, a transformer-core and a primary winding. associated therewith disposed within said casing, an open secondary winding of substantially U-shape associated with said transformer core, the main body portion of said U-shape member being disposed within said casing and the leg portions thereof projecting from said casing in clamping relation to the sides of the freezing tray.

4. A freezing tray heating device comprising a casing, a transformer core and a primary winding associated therewith disposed within said casing, an open secondary winding of substantially U-shape associated with said transformer core, the main body portion'of said U-shape member being disposed within said casing and the leg portions thereof projecting from said casing,

and means for moving one of said leg portions relative to the other. 7 I

5. A freezing tray heating device comprising a casing, two spaced arms projecting from said casing and adapted to serve as a support for a freezi tra and means disposed within said casing or automatically causing an electrical current to flow from one of said arms to the other through the freezing tray when the freezing tray is placed on said arms, said casing bemg provided with means for causing said arms to clanipingly engage said freezing tray.

6. In combinatlon, a freezing tray receiving device comprising two spaced electrical contact members adapted to conform to the sides of a freezing tray, a freezing tray adapted to be supported by said contact members, means for urgin the contact members towards each other or clampingly enaging the freezing tray, and means for inucing an electrical circuit therein.

In testimony whereofI hereunto aflix my signature.

, ARTHUR W. BERRESFORD. 

